Dry cell



June .29 1926 1,590,716

s. APosToLor-F DRY CELL Filed NOV. 28, 1919 Iii DRY

5159031@ PATENT l OFFICE.

or NEW. YORK, N. Y.

cam..`

- i application mednevmber 25,1919. serial No.'341,a15.

This invention relatesto improvements in 'dry cells of thetype where the electrodes and paste are kept out of operative relation until it is desired to use the cells.

One object` of this invention is to produce a battery'cell with the electrolyte in a lproxiniately normal positionwhich may e kept fora longtime without deterioration but which may b e very quickly and easily made ready for immediate use.

In the' old type of dry cell the action of l the paste on the metallic container is quite destructive, even when the cell is .on open circuit.l For example, many of such cells loseovenforty per cent of 'their efficiency in `less than three months. f

By my invention all destructive action of the paste on the metallic container is entirely I eliminated while such cellsare held in stock by a dealer or by a urchaser prior to their actual use. The cel s manufactured aoco-rding to applicants invention may be shipped long distances without impairment of their efficiency. 1 A further object is to produce a dry cell, the parts of which may bey very cheaply and independently 4 manufactured, and which may be shipped separately,if desired, to any locality where they are to be assembled. In my copending application Serial Number 257 ,651, I have shown anddescribed a type of cell having a tubular sleeve carrying the bobbin suspended -therein and a low er cup contains an electrolyte paste, out of contact with the bobbin, but readyl for instant use. 'Io put this type of cell into ac# Vtion it was necessary to vforce the paste up from the lowercup into the space between the bobbin and its tubular sleeve, by telei scoping the cup's.

In my present invention, 'I having a bobbin, a tubular sleeve, and a cup,

but I locate my paste initially around the bobbin instead of inthe bottoin-of the cup. My broad invention may be embodied in two distinct forms. In each form the bobbin is carried within a tubular sleeve.` y In the firstform, the tubular sleeve is closed at the top, while inthe second form it is closed at the bottom. In either case the-prepared paste occupies the space immediately adjacent to the bobbin, and the ,cell may be made active bytele'scoping the sleeve andthe cup.

An important advantage secured by both forms of my present invention. is that sub,-

provide a cell i stantially no movement of the paste is nec essary inassembling the' parts in order to.'

activate the-cell, theinitial andiinal positions of the pastevbeing practically identical.v

In theemployment of my invention the zinc cups will rst lie-made separately. The manufacturer can then prepare the bobbins surrounded-by theelectrolyte paste lin suitable receptacles, thus; greatly facilitating production,` and l'lowering its cost.

A further advantage of this type of cell isthat Vit will instantly reach its maximum power -when collapsed. This will beobvious from Vthe fact thatthe carbon electrodes and v,the depolarizer are thoroughly impregnated with the paste fromA the beginning, and -that when the zinc is inserted no time is required for the paste to diffuse through the depolarizer. V

` Several. preferred forms of myinvention are' set forth in the following description and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure 1 -is a sectional view of a battery celLmade in accordance' with one embodiment of my invention with the parts out of operative position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the parts in Figure 1 assembled for immediate use. Figure 3 is asectional view'of a second embodiment with the parts out of operative position..

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the parts of Figure 3 in assembled position.

- Similar reference charactersrefer to similar parts throughoutthe several views.

Referring to `the cell shown in Figures 1 and'2,vthe carbon electrode 10 has the depolarizing'm'ass suitably ysecured in .place .'13 is `filled with electrolyteA paste 15. The

washer 16 offibrous material, and the seal 17 ofwax or pitch, serve to tightl secure the bobbin to the container 13. he vertical wooden separating members 18 and the fibrous disc 21 assist in centering the bob.- bin and the zinc electrodev 19 in the4 container 13'.A The electrode 19 is in the `form of a tubular zinc cup and may have a vent hole 20 near the bottom. A layer 21 of waterproofing material used at the bottom of the cell toproteet the aste, but it is not essential..V The bottom o the container 13 is closed by a cap 22 `of fibrous.- material ort-lle like.' This capserves toprote'ct the bottom of the. Cell-from accidental injuries `Vsuchasl abrasions, etc. To put the cell into operation itis merely necessary to remove the protective cap 22, insert t e through the layer 21 into the space between i the bobbin and thecontainer. 4During-the above collapsing or telescoping operation;

the vent allows the entrapped air to escape, and the vertical memberslBaiid disc 21 operate to'correctly `center the zinc cup;

It will be noted from an inspection of Figure `1V that the paste does not entirely fill the inside o'the cell, butfthat 'there isan air Aspace in the top. This islto preventthe .paste from creeping up above the 'pitch seal and toallow for the slightu'pward flow of the Vpas te' 15 displaced by the zinc electrode when itis inserted. The quantity of paste initially placed in the container will be equal to the cubic capacity of the inside of the cell diminished bythe volume of the air v space, the volume'of the bobbin and spacers 18, and the displacement of the zinc cup-"in,

.assembled position.

The parallel spacers '18 onthe outside of thel bobbin may beof any' convenient num- A applicant.

, Referringnowto the second embodiment of applicants invention as shown in .Iiguresf 3 and 4, the bobbin consistsas betore of the ber... F our of such spacers are preferred by carbonelectrode 10, the depolarizing massin the cloth container 11, and the metal cap 12.

The bobbin is surrounded'bythe paste 15 and the vertical wooden' separating mem- A bers 18, and isinsulated from the bottom of the container.13byja-suitable washer 30,

, .preferably of fibrousmaterial. "5.

' The terminal' of the carbon-electrode Yis provided with a 'threaded post 27and the milled n1`1t28. The temporary cap 29- composed preferably o the same material asf the container 13l serves to prevent evapora- -tion 'or absorptionx'of moisture as the case.

may be; If desired, a layer of Wax may be inserted at the ledgeof this cap, as shown, tostill further protect the paste from change.

YThe zinc Acup- 14 is open at the bottom zinc cup 19, and force it' up' instead of at the'top andis provided with il a terminal consisting ofthe binding post 25,

`upon -which the .nut 26 is threaded.'

The top of vthe zinc cnp14 is also provided with the socket" 24of bram or other metal, having a'central aperture to receive the binding post-27 ofthe carbon electrode. This isocket issupportedbythe seal 23 preferably -of pitch, andthe annular `washer 30 of fibrous material. A To assemble this cell from the inactive position shown in Figure 1 to the active posicoveringmay be dispensedwith. .This isV particularly advantageous when the cells are tobe, placed 4in -metal lashlight tubes. In carrying out` my invention, I do not desirevto be limited tov any; ofthe examples disclosed herein, but it will be understood` that many variations may be made within the general` principles and scope of .the in- 4.vent1on.

I claim In a dry ,een O'f the type' described, a bobbin electrode suspended within a cup-shaped inverted container of non-conducting material, means between the bobbinv and the container'to hold the bobbin the central position, 'said means comprising longitudinal spacing rods and a supply ofelectrolytic paste, an insulating disc secured upon the bottom of-said bobbin, a. layer of paraffin located .belowsaid insulating disc and forming a bottom closurefor said container, and a zinc cup-shaped electrode fitting the inside of said container and adapted to be inserted upwardly therein to surround the bobbin and activatethe cell.

In testimony whereof, I have aiiixed my signature to this specification.

' SERGE APOSTOLOFF. 

